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Past couple of weeks has been fun! I am currently at a transitioning point in my life. Aside from the stress caused by the changes, I am really having as much fun as I can and doing good in the process.

Two weekends ago, I was privileged to travel to NYC to join epic adventures S.E. projects. Had a great time giving packs of gum away in front of Madison Square Garden, and handing out free breakfast bars to the day traders going to the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Response was huge... New Yorkers would walk almost two blocks, and then realize we said "Free" then walk back and receive an act of kindness... Pretty cool! The entire trip was so energizing, also received fresh vision, and got some new ideas for what good we can do in our own city... I could not wait to get home.

"Home Run" Steve said, when I shared with him the result of how Emerge's, our twenty’s group, S.E. projects went Sunday evening, I called it divide and conquer evangelism. It was electric!

We started off with worship, then I taught a crash course in S.E. - What is it? Why do we do it? How do you do it? - Then half of us went to a Skate Park and the other half to a BMX Track and gave away Gatorade and Flavor Ice. The response we was awesome. One emergent said, "I talked with a lady who was heart broken with several young children and was looking for a church that would love and accept her family, but had a negative view of church and this was just the touch she needed from a church.” Two other emergents gave Freeze Pops to a group of Muslim women and their children. How cool is that? The other group said the Skaters responded so well that they wished they had more Gatorade.

Over and over I see fruitfulness of being consistent, I always hear the phrases "The Vineyard right?" or "Your church is really cool, I think I might come check it out!"

When we returned to the church, there was a buzz in the air. Everyone seemed uplifted and encouraged. One person said, "I was really nervous first, but I think this is something I would like to do on a regular basis.” A small group leader said, "This was way more fun than just reading and studying the Bible, this is doing it!” As I was thinking about it all and coming down from my adrenaline rush, Luke 10 came to mind. I remembered when Jesus sent out the seventy-two and they returned with great joy and excitement about what they did in Jesus' name and how joyful Jesus actually was at that moment. Next month, on our Servant Sunday we are going to kick it up a notch, I cannot wait!

great time yesterday our team of 60 people when to Glenburn Green for our 4th year...tons of people arrived played games, ate food, popcorn, snowcones, bounced in bouncy castle, had faces painted, made crafts, received groceries and received prizes...

FunFest Facts...pre-event loading the truck and the bus plus gathering materials takes 8 to 12hrs giving instructions to team for the event takes 20minsbagging 30 bags of groceries and loading them on the bus takes 20minsit takes a min 50 people to pull off the event, ideally 60 and above would be greatset up at location takes about an hour50 goldfish in small bowls being won by kids throwing ping pong balls takes 2hrs, it's the game all the kids play...one gold fish is 4 years old living in a 20gal homethe 2 liter ring-a-drink-game with 64 bottles takes 2 hrswe pray after instructions just before leaving, when we arrive, and when we debrief at site

clean up takes 2 to 3hrs

the focus of our tasks are the children and parents not the games...people were listened to, prayed for, praised when completing a game, and creating an atmosphere of God's acceptance and fun...

granola bars on wall street to investment bankers and stock exchange people...a real spin on servant evangelism...open...interested...fun...shocked...all expressions of people...i stood just in from of nysc doing the outreach...interestingly both Doug (my friend and pastor) had the same impression...God's presence was here...

gum...everyone in ny like chewing gum...outside of madison square garden i'm doing the gum outreach...people from every color, group, and language...met a guy from england...world cup...england big deal...we talk about the world cup...life...what i'm doing...i mention soul survivor in watford...he knows some friends who are believers who go there may check it out...good open connection...

epic adventure...big fun...nyjourney.com these guys are going for it 80 hr work weeks, great interns... we want to create an outreach here next year for teens and 20's probably send a team to ny then the next week do a week here...

returned encouraged and stretched...

every wed we are taking a couple of interested young people out for outreach experience...today downtown dayton...different than downtown ny except people need jesus...just the same...we talked, served cold drinks and prayed for people...Doug had a few people mention that they knew the vineyard and they appreciated our outward focus...one guy said, what you all have helped us do has changed our church for the good'...what an honor to serve, love and care consistently for 15 years...a pretty good church....

Four of us are heading up to ny city today to learn, serve and see epic adventures first hand. i've been tracking these guys from the begining of their church plant...over the last 4 years their church has grown to over 1000 and they host teams over 12 weeks during the summer for an outreach event called epic adventures...I'm going to be a sponge and take many notes...we can always learn from others...

Another great outreach event happens in Cincy SOS is probably in my humble opinion the best thing going at the CincyVineyard. around 900 teens from all over the place show up. Worship from Matt Redman, and local worship teams, great teaching, and outreach are on the adjenda...soscincyvineyard.com Starts Monday...

time just keeps rushing by...little time to write...or think beyond work...

my wife is visiting her mom and triplet sisters...yep i got the pick of the litter...

just working at vineyard stuff and home stuff...my young jedi knight has already lost 9 pounds working with me on various outreach projects...we walk miles everyday...

Single Parent and Grandparents with kids ministry is slowly moving down the runway...not quite flying but gaining some speed...

emerge our 20's is doing well and the leader will be going with me to NY City on Friday...we'll be visiting journey church and gleaning some helpful tip to launch epic adventure dayton next year...

that's about it...burning the candle...less stress more fun...resting in my heart.

Seal's cover of the steve miller band's Fly Like An Eagle is worth the listen...SEAL LYRICS

"Fly Like An Eagle"

Yeah, think Ibetter get upDoo...doo...du du ... Yeah ...Doo...doo...du du ... Love, love, love ...Doo...doo...du du ... Don't it baby? ...Time keeps on slippin'Into the future...SaidTime keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'Into the future.........oohhhSaid I wanna fly like an eagle... to the seaFly like an eagle let my spirit carry me, I wanna...fly...Fly right into the future....I wanna feed the babies... said, who can't get enough to eatWanna shoe the children... no shoes on their feetI wanna house the people... livin' in the streetOh yeah there's a solutionLet me fly like and eagle... to the seaFly like an eagle let that spirit carry me, I wannaFly right into the futureTime keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'Into the future...Time flies don't it baby?Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'Into the future... ...Ohhh.Time flies don't it baby?Keep on flying...keep on flying, ohhh ...Oh yeah, yeahThink I better get up...Don't it baby?Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey...I wanna fly like an eagle... to the seaFly like an eagle let my spirits carry me, I wannafly...Fly right into the futureLemme fly like an eagle ... to the sea... Fly............ like an ea.....gle.... we'llfly...Fly like an eagle let that spirit carry me, I wanna...fly....Fly............... like an ea.....gle.... we'll fly...Fly right into the futureLemme fly like an eagle ... ... to the seaIn a sky full of people ... only some want to fly, isn't that...crazy? ... Ohh hho ...oohhfly....Fly............ like an ea.....gle.... I'm gonna fly...Fly............ like an ea.....gle.... I'm gonna fly...Fly............ like an ea.....gle.... I'm gonna fly...

summer...a great season to think about recharging the ole batteries...i think rest and recharging has a lot to do with our mindset and outlook...entering into a restful attitude even when working...and taking time to reflect and to do something different...go to the beach, to the mountains, to play with the kids, or spend time with family and friends...

Hebrews speaks about entering into His rest' by faith...having an attitude that believes God is in control, and having faith that He is more than able to do His work in us and through us...His rest should encourage us to take a deep spiritual breath and then to let the breath out acknowleging Him as our source, our comfort, and our security.

I'll probably take a few hours each week to do some things with my family...i have a fly fishing day scheduled for Nathan. and i'm determined to chill instead of stress when working...and determined to ponder more, stress less, and enjoy the season.

here's some wisdom from mark twainREST

In America, we hurry--which is well; but when the day's work is done, we go on thinking of losses and gains, we plan for the morrow, we even carry our business cares to bed with us, and toss and worry over them when we ought to be restoring our racked bodies and brains with sleep. We burn up our energies with these excitements, and either die early or drop into a lean and mean old age at a time of life which they call a man's prime in Europe. When an acre of ground has produced long and well, we let it lie fallow and rest for a season; we take no man clear across the continent in the same coach he started in--the coach is stabled somewhere on the plains and its heated machinery allowed to cool for a few days; when a razor has seen long service and refuses to hold an edge, the barber lays it away for a few weeks, and the edge comes back of its own accord. We bestow thoughtful care upon inanimate objects, but none upon ourselves. What a robust people, what a nation of thinkers we might be, if we would only lay ourselves on the shelf occasionally and renew our edges!- The Innocents Abroad

here is a report from Caleb Roe our jedi knight who helps with emerge (our 20's) and with pretty good outreach...

People really care about their dogs.

You know, even when my dog Tucker does something stupid, I still love him. In a way our relationship with our dogs is like our relationship with God... I do something dumb, and He still shows me His mercy and love... pretty ironic. It's amazing how much people love their dogs, and even more amazing how much God loves us.

Did you know there are 68 million owned dogs in the U.S. and people spend $35 billion on their dogs annually?

Saturday morning for 1st Saturday Outreach we went to Delco Park and gave away hundreds of doggy treats to the participants of "Walk for Strays". We gave the treats to the dog owners who in turn gave the treats to their dogs...I guess the owners probably could eat them too... anyway... Had a great time! A church handing out treats to the dogs really spun the people participating in the walk. I think it's huge when a church sends a message that says, "we're not just going to serve you, but we are going to serve your pet." Interesting note the dogs knew we had treats way before the owners knew...scent...and nose...equals...knowledge.

it was a great day...next year we will kick up our involvement by touching the owners with bottles of water...

just returned from a trip to share irresistible evangelism with a few churches...it was an interesting time

1. i learned church culture is strong and limits outward focused thinking2. churches are realizing if they are going to pass on their legacy to the next generation they have to change3. churches need the teaching, stories, to help them along the way toward change4. an outside voice helps stimulate fresh faith, ideas and helps people move forward5. stories help ground teaching and apply practical application6. driving 10 hrs up and 10 hrs back is a long time

7. my personal views need to remain personal mentioning ...reformed theology...was not helpful...side note. i lived in scotland for 18 years and have seen first hand the result of reformed theology...the church of scotland is the fastest declining church in the world...inward...us vs them...seperation from the world...leads to not being outward focused and the view if God wants people to be in His presence for eternity He is quite capable of doing it without our help...

8. team training is always better then doing training as a one man show, different insights, covering one another, stamina, and relating to different people is more than doubled

10. God has invested a lot in my life... i am humbled to see how He uses the investment and makes me want to give more.

11. there is always obstacles to over come...in love, in faith and with good attitude

12. consider the audience...sometimes we miss the mark by shooting past the people we are trying to motivate by not considering the audience with our presentations...who are their age...time as a church, what type of church are they...what are their views, where do they come from ... their history...background, how can i best communicate the truth they need to hear...what do i need to say, and how can i present the news that will connect and move them forward

it was a good time...well worth the journey...

see aia.com/evangelism for doug pollocks wealth of info and wonderings..